Receptacle for fountain pens



May 13, 1941. v w. J. GUENTHER RECEPTACLE FOR FOUNTAIN PENS Filed Dec22, 1939 Patented May 13, 1941 RECEPTACLE FOR FOUNTAIN PENS Walter J.Guenther, Fort Madison, Iowa, assignor to W. A. Sheaffer Pen Company,Fort Madison, Iowa, a corporation of Delaware Application December 22,1939, Serial No. 310,605

Claims.

This invention relates to a receptacle for a fountain pen and hasspecial reference to a device preferably comprising a base for restingon a desk and a receptacle for holding a fountain pen in a desiredposition relative thereto for convenience in use and in storage.

More particularly, this invention relates to a receptacle for a fountainpen having a shoulder at the lower end of the holder thereof comprisingan open-ended socket having an annular seat in the bore and intermediatethe ends thereof providing upper and lower communicating chambers, theseat engaging the shoulder of the holder of the fountain pen tosubstantially seal the pen nib and exposed ink feeding means of thefountain pen in the lower chamber. An operating head telescopicallyengages the open end of the socket for movement relative thereto and hasan axial opening through which the writing point end of the fountain penextends, there being means associated with the operating head andactuated thereby to engage behind the shoulder and to urge a positiveengagement thereof with the seat upon manual adjustment of the operatinghead in which the engaging means normally permits free access of. thefountain pen into and out of the socket.

The primary use of the present invention is in the office or other placewhere the need for a ready pen is frequent and the elimination of theusual cap for a fountain pen, which is either screw threaded or is of atight fit, affords great convenience and results in a substantial savingof time and effort. It is essential in such a device to provide for thefree insertion and removal of the fountain pen during the frequent dailyuse thereof, although it is desirable at times during substantialperiods of inactivity, to prevent the removal of. the fountain pen fromits position in the receptacle and to effect a positive seal thereof.

In most desk stands on the market today, the receptacle is hingedly orpivotally mounted and it is just as desirable to lock the fountain penin an upright position in readiness for use as it is to look thefountain pen in its receptacle when pivoted to a position flat on thebase in readiness for storing. It is also desirable to provide a verysimple and convenient movement for effecting the locking of the fountainpen in the receptacle and all of these features are desirablyaccomplished in the present construction.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a receptacle for adesk set of the type indicated above in which a fountain pen is freelyinsertable into the receptacle to rest by its own Weight on the shouldertherein to effect a substantial seal of the writing point and exposedink feeding mechanism and is freely removable for use in writing, amanual movement of an operating head preventing the removal of thefountain pen from the receptacle and effecting a positive seal of thechamber housing the pen nib and exposed ink feeding means when desired.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will hereinafter be moreparticularly pointed out and, for a more complete understanding of thecharacteristic features of this invention, reference may now be had tothe following description when taken together with the accompanyingdrawing, in which latter:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fountain pen desk standincorporating a receptacle embodying the features of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a central vertical sectional view of the receptacle separatedfrom the base and showing in elevation a portion of fountain peninserted therein, the holding means for the fountain pen being shown inan operative condition with the fountain. pen locked in the socket;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a changed position of thefountain pen holding means, the holding means allowing the pen to befreely removable from the receptacle; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the holding means for the fountain pen.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, a base It) is providedand may be of any material preferably a decorative material such asplate glass, onyx, or the like. The base may be formed into variousshapes and of various sizes and of such weight as to lend sumcientstability to support a receptacle l I and fountain pen I2 in anyinclined relation thereto.

The receptacle H is formed preferably of a pyroxylin product or of otherwell-known molding compositions, the socket H being open ended andhaving a seat 13 intermediate the ends thereof providing upper and lowercommunicating chambers. The seat I3, as shown in the drawing, maycomprise an annular band of rubber or may be formed of the same materialas the receptacle and integrally therewith.

An operating head I4 is disposed at the upper end of the socket ll andhas telescopic engagement with the open end thereof for movementrelative thereto. Such movement may be either a relatively rotarymovement, or movement in the direction of the axes thereof or, as isshown in the drawing, the movement may be both rotary and in thedirection of the axes. The operating head is in the form of a collarhaving a central flared opening l5 through which the Writing point endof the fountain pen extends to seat in the socket.

The upper chamber of the socket H is in- 4 ternally threaded over aportion l6 thereof, the wall of the upper chamber converging from thethreaded portion in the direction of the seat l3 to form a taper or camportion 17. The juncture of the converging wall of the upper chamberwith the wall or bore of the lower chamber provides a shoulder againstwhich rests the annular seat or band l3.

A ring I 8, preferably formed of a relatively thin sheet metal, isfixedly secured to the operating head M, the inner bore of the ringbeing coextensive with the flared opening !5 of I the operating head.The end of the operating head opposite the flared open end is undercutas at l9 to receive in the recess formed thereby the upper'end of thesocket H, the ring l8 extending within the bore of the socket. The ringi8 is provided with external threads for engaging the internallythreaded portion it of the socket I I whereby, upon manual rotation ofthe operating head I l, the ring'in its threaded engagement with thethreads of the upper chamber of the socket II moves the operating head iand ring in the direction of the axes of the pen holder I2 and thesocket ll.

Resilient fingers 2 I, as shown more particularly in Fig, 4, depend fromthe ring it adjacent the threaded portion 20 thereof within the upperchamber of the socket. These fingers are preferably formed integrallywith the ring l8 although, of course, they may be separately formed.Each of the fingers is provided with an enlarged head 22, the outer wall23 of which is tapered at an inclination corresponding to the taperedsuch as is shown in Fig. 3, to permit free access of the fountain peninto and out of the socket l i. The co-operating cam means, indicated bythe walls H and 23, positively effect adjustment of, the fingers againstthe resiliency thereof to engage behind a shoulder 24 and urgeengagement thereof with' the upper shoulder of the seat l3 uponmanualadjustment of the operating head. As shown in Fig.2, the operating headhas been manually rotated to cause movement in the direction of the axisof the operating head [4 and the socket H, the resilient fingers beingengaged behind the shoulder 24 at the end of the fountain pen I? toprevent removal of the fountain pen from the socket. The shoulder of thefountain pen is thus positively engaged on the seat l3.

It is desirable to effect a seal of the pen nib 25 and exposed inkfeeding mechanism 26 whether or not the fountain pen is actually lookedin the receptacle. Without a holding means for urging the end of thefountain pen holder against the seat, it is necessary that the pen, restby its own weight on the shoulder to effect a sealing of the pen nib andexposed ink feeding means. It is also desirable to have some clearancebetween the fountain pen holder and exposed feeding means 26.

-to compensate for the tilting of the fountain pen holder out of axialrelationship with the socket, the end of the pen holder is preferablyprovided with a tapered peripheral wall 2'! for engagement with thepreferably square shoulder of the annular band l3. In this manner theseal is effective irrespective of the coaxial relation of the fountainpen with the socket within such limits as are prescribed by the openingof the operating head I4.

In the operation of the construction above described, the fountain penhaving a shoulder at the lower end thereof is inserted through theopening of the operating head i4 and through the opening of the ring andthe depending fingers thereof to engage the seat I 3 in order that thelower chamber of the socket be substantially sealed to the atmosphere toprovide against drying of the writing fluid in the pen nib 25 and InFig. 3, the depending fingers 2| are open to permit ready access of thefountain pen into and out of the receptacle, the resiliency of thefingers normally urging the fingers to occupy a predetermined po-vsition permitting such free access. Where the need for a ready pen isfrequent, this condition may obtain over a substantial period and thefountain pen rests by its own weight on the shoulder or seat to effect asubstantial seal of the writing point.

During substantial periods of inactivity and during the storage of thedesk set it is desirable to prevent the removal of the fountain pen orto prevent its becoming accidentally dislodged from the socket. Thelocking of the fountain pen in position within the socket by movement ofthe fingers 2| in the direction of the axis of the holder and socket,besides merely preventing removal or accidental dislodgement of thefountain pen from the socket, also effects a positive seal of the pennib and exposed ink feeding mechanism. Such locking is positive, thefingers being moved in the direction of the seat and radially inwardlyagainst the resiliency thereof by a positive force in the nature of thetapered wall I1. When it is desired to release the fountain pen from itslocked condition the operating head i4 is manually rotated and theresiliency of the fingers normally urge the fingers radially outwardlyas permitted by the tapered wall ll.

A rotative movement of the operating head manually in one directionlocks the fountain pen in position on its seat to effect a positive sealof the writing point and a rotative movement in the other direction ofthe operating head releases the fountain pen so that it may be removedand replaced freely as desired for writing. It is only necessary thatthe operating head be rotated but a portion of a complete revolution andit may be desirable,,as is shown in the drawing, to provide a pin 28 atthe upper portion of the socket for fixed relation therewith, thepinextendih'g beyond the inner wall of the socket to engage a slot 29in-the sleeve IS, the slot extending. but a' portion of the distancearound the sleeve i8 and being tapered corresponding to the pitch of thethreads of the ring 18 and socket portion it.

While but a single embodiment of this invention is herein shown anddescribed, it is to be understood that various modifications thereof maybe apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from thespirit and scope of this invention and, therefore, the same is only tobe limited by the scope of the prior art and the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a receptacle for a fountain pen having a shoulder at the lower endof the holder thereof, an open ended socket having an annular seat inthe bore and intermediate the ends thereof providing upper and lowercommunicating chambers, said seat engaging the shoulder of the holder ofsaid fountain pen to substantially seal the pen nib and exposed inkfeeding means of said fountain pen in said lower chamber, an operatinghead telescopically engaging the open end of said socket for movementrelative thereto, said operating head having an axial opening throughwhich the writing point end of said fountain pen extends, and meansassociated with said operating head and actuated thereby to engagebehind said shoulder and to urge a positive engagement thereof with saidseat upon manual adjustment of said operating head, said means normallypermitting free access of said fountain pen into and out of said socket.

2. In a receptacle for a fountain pen having a shoulder at the lower endof the holder thereof with a tapered peripheral wall, an open endedsocket having an annular seat in the bore and intermediate the endsthereof providing upper and lower communicating chambers, said seatengaging the tapered peripheral wall of said shoulder of the holder ofsaid fountain pen to substantially seal the pen nib and exposed inkfeeding means of said fountain pen in said lower chamber, an operatinghead telescopically engaging the open end of said socket for movementrelative thereto, said operating head having an axial opening throughwhich the writing point end of said fountain pen extends and said sealbeing effective irrespective of the coaxial relation of said fountainpen with said socket within limits prescribed by the opening of saidoperating head, and means associated with said operating head andactuated thereby to engage behind said shoulder and to urge a positiveengagement thereof with said seat upon manual adjustment of saidoperating head, said means normally permitting free access of saidfountain pen into and out of said socket.

3. In a receptacle for a fountain pen having a shoulder at the lower endof the holder thereof, an open ended socket having a radially inwardlyextending annular seat in the bore and intermediate the ends thereofproviding upper and lower communicating chambers, said seat engaging theshoulder of the holder of said fountain pen to substantially seal thepen nib and exposed ink feeding means of said fountain pen in said lowerchamber, an operating head telescopically engaging the open end of saidsocket for movement relative thereto, said operating head having anaxial opening through which the writing point end of said fountain penextends, and downwardly extending resilient fingers associated with saidoperating head and actuated thereby to engage behind said shoulder andto urge a positive engagement thereof with said seat upon manualadjustment of said operating head, said fingers normally permitting freeaccess of said fountain pen into and out of said socket.

4. In a receptacle for a fountain pen having a shoulder at the lower endof the holder thereof, an open ended socket having an annular seat inthe bore and intermediate the ends thereof providing upper and lowercommunicating chambers, said seat engaging the shoulder of the holder ofsaid fountain pen to substantially seal the pen nib and exposed inkfeeding means of said fountain pen in said lower chamber, an operatinghead telescopically engaging the open end of said socket for movementrelative thereto, said operating head having an axial opening throughwhich the writing point end of said fountain pen extends, a ring fixedto said operating head, resilient fingers depending from said ringwithin said upper chamber, the resiliency of said fingers normallyurging said fingers to occupy a predetermined position permitting freeaccess of said fountain pen into and out of said socket, and means insaid socket cooperating with said operating head for positivelyeffecting adjustment of said fingers against the resiliency thereof toengage behind said shoulder and to urge engagement thereof with saidseat upon manual adjustment of said operating head to prevent removal ofsaid fountain pen from said socket.

5.- In a receptacle for a fountain pen having a shoulder at the lowerend of the holder thereof, an open ended socket having an annular seatin the bore and intermediate the ends thereof providing upper and lowercommunicating chambers, said seat engaging the shoulder of the holder ofsaid fountain pen to substantially seal the pen nib and exposed inkfeeding means of said fountain pen in said lower chamber and said upperchamber being internally threaded, an operating head telescopicallyengaging the open end of said socket for movement relative thereto, saidoperating head having an axial opening through which the writing pointend of said fountain pen extends, an externally threaded ring fixed tosaid operating head and having threaded engagement with the internalthreads of said upper chamber, resilient fingers depending from saidring, the resiliency of said fingers normally urging said fingers tooccupy a predetermined position permitting free access of said fountainpen into and out of said socket, and means in said socket cooperatingwith said operating head for positively effecting adjustment of saidfingers against the resiliency thereof to engage behind said shoulderand to urge engagement thereof with said seat upon manual threadedadjustment of said operating head to prevent removal of said fountainpen from said socket.

6. In a receptacle for a fountain pen having a shoulder at the lower endof the holder thereof, an open ended socket having an annular seat inthe bore and intermediate the ends thereof providing upper and lowercommunicating chambers, said seat engaging the shoulder of the holder ofsaid fountain pen to substantially seal the pen nib and exposed inkfeeding means of said fountain pen in said lower chamber with the wallof the upper chamber converging in the direction of said seat, anoperating head telescopically engaging the open end of said socket formovement relative thereto, said operating head having an axial openingthrough which the writing point end of said fountain pen extends,depending resilient fingers associated with said shoulder at the lowerend of the holder thereof,

an open ended socket having an annular seat in the bore and intermediatethe ends thereof providing upper and lower communicating chambers, saidseat engaging-the shoulder of the holder of said fountain pen tosubstantially seal the pen nib and exposed ink feeding means of said 3fountain pen in said lower chamber, an operating head telescopicallyengaging the open end of said socket for movement relative thereto, saidoperating head having an axial opening through which the writing pointend of said fountain pen extends. resilient means associated with saidoperating head, the resiliency of said means normally urging said meansto occupy a predetermined position permitting free access of saidfountain pen into and out of said socket, and

cooperating cam means in the bore of said upper chamber and on saidresilient means actuated by movement of said operating head forpositively effecting adjustment of said'means against the resiliencythereof, to engage behind said shoulder and to urge engagement thereofwith said seat upon manual adjustment of said operating head to preventremoval of said fountain pen from said socket.

8. In a receptacle for a fountain pen having a shoulder at the lower endof the holder thereof, an open ended socket having an annular seat inthe bore and intermediate the ends thereof providing upper and lowercommunicating cham- 1 bers, said seat engaging the shoulder of theholder of said fountain pen to substantially seal the pen nib andexposed ink feeding means of said fountain pen in said lower chamber, anoperating head telescopically engaging the open end of said socket formovement relative thereto, said operating head having an axial openingthrough which the writing point end of said fountain pen extends,depending resilient fingers associated with said operating head theresiliency of said fingers normally urging said fingers to occupy apredetermined position permitting free access of said fountain pen intoand out of said socket,

and cooperating cam means on said fingers and on said socket actuated bysaid operating head for positively effecting adjustment of said fingersagainst the resiliency thereof to engage behind said shoulder and tourge a positive engagement thereof with said seat upon manual adjustmentof said operating head to prevent removal of said fountain pen from saidsocket.

9. In a receptacle for a fountain pen having a shoulder at the lower endof the holder thereof, an open ended socket having an annular seat inthe bore and intermediate the ends thereof providing upper and lowercommunicating chambers, said seat engaging the shoulder of the hold erof said fountain pen to substantially seal the pen nib and exposed inkfeeding means of said fountian pen in said lower chamber with the wallof the upper chamber tapering in a direction of said seat, an operatinghead telescopically engaging the open end of said socket for movementrelative thereto, said operating head having an axial opening throughwhich the writing point end of said fountain pen extends, a ringassociated with said operating head, resilient fingers depending fromsaid ring within said upper chamber, the resiliency of said fingersnormally urging said fingers to occupy a predetermined positionpermitting free access of said fountain pen into said socket, anenlarged head on each of said fingers, each of said heads having atapered wall corresponding to the taper of the wall of said upperchamber for engagement therewith for positively effecting adjustment ofsaid fingers against the resiliency thereof to engage behind saidshoulder and to urge engagement thereof with said seat upon manualadjustment of said operating head to prevent removal of said fountainpen from said socket.

10. In a receptacle for a fountain pen having a shoulder at the lowerend of the holder thereof, an open ended socket having an annular seatin the bore and intermediate the ends thereof providing upper and lowercommunicating chambers, said seat engaging the shoulder of the holder ofsaid fountain pen to substantially seal the pen nib and exposed inkfeeding means of said fountain pen in said lower chamber with the wallof said chamber being tapered from a threaded portion thereof in thedirection of said seat, an

operating head telescopically engaging the open end of said socket formovement relative thereto. said operating nead having an axial openingthrough which the writing point end of said fountain pen extends, anexternally threaded ring fixed to said operating head and havingthreaded engagement with the threads of said upper chamber, resilientfingers depending from said ring within said upper chamber, theresiliency of said fingers normally urging said fingers to occupy apredetermined position permitting free access of said fountain pen intosaid socket, an enlarged head on each of said fingers, each of saidheads having a tapered wall correspondin to the taper of the wall ofsaid upper chamber for engagement therewith for positively effectingadjustment of said fingers against the resiliency thereof to engagebehind said shoulder erating head to prevent removal of said fountainpen from said socket.

WALTER J. GUEN'I'HER.

